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What’s happening in Black Cincinnati in 2024

Cincinnati African American Events this year.  

Hip-hop, R&B, soul, Jazz, reggae, gospel, old school, and symphony live-music concerts happening in Cincinnati in 2024

Black composers, plays, museum exhibits, comedy shows, concert series, operas, dance recitals, local music, and festivals in Cincinnati.  

Black Cincinnatians can routinely and affordably enjoy the performing arts, fine arts, musicians, entertainers, comedians, program initiatives, and more. Arts and entertainment can help improve physical and mental health.

Text VOBC to 513-270-3880 to receive an updated weekly calendar of Black events in Cincinnati!

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Feel free to submit an event to be considered in this article. All Cincinnati African American Events listed are as current as the publication date. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information before acting.

2024 Cincinnati African American Events

woman and man enjoying a show

ArtsWave Flow Pass

Show Series Pass
Ongoing
Multiple Venues
An African American arts experience. The series features five unique, Black-centered events, including the African Modernism in America art exhibit, August Wilson’s “How I Learned What I Learned,” Mercurial Landscapes Evening of Dance, and the American Manifest by Charles Gaines.

Rhiannon Giddens

Rhiannon Giddens

Folk Concert
March 20, 8 p.m.
Memorial Hall (OTR)
Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens is known for her unique blend of traditional and contemporary music.

Black Violin

Black Violin

Classical and Hip-hop Concert
March 22, 7:30 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
For nearly two decades, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities.

One Hallelujah

One Hallelujah

Gospel Concert
March 24, 6:30 p.m.
Andrew J Brady Music Center (The Banks)
Featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jonathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell, Israel Houghton, and Jekalyn Carr.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan

Broadway Musical
Through March 24
Aronoff Center for the Arts (Downtown)
Join the Darling Family as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell take them on a soaring adventure all the way to Never Never Land. All you have to do is believe.

Related Article: Jazz Events and Venues in Black Cincinnati

avery*sunshine

Avery*Sunshine

Concert
March 30, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Avery*Sunshine is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for her eclectic style of music, which blends elements of Jazz, soul, funk, and R&B.

stew

Stew

Play
Through April 7
Playhouse in the Park (Mt Adams)
Stew draws an unforgettable portrait of three generations of Black women as they take turns preparing a stew.

Classical Roots

Classical Roots

Chorale Concert
April 19, 7:30 p.m.
Music Hall (OTR)
John Morris Russell leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Classical Roots Community Choir, and Nouveau Players in an evening of influential and inspirational music.

spyro gyra

Spyro Gyra

Jazz Concert
April 20, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Spyro Gyra is a Grammy-nominated jazz fusion band performing for over 40 years. The band is known for its eclectic mix of Jazz, rock, pop, and world music influences.

crowd enjoying jazz

Jazz at the Memo

Jazz Concert Series
Through April 29
Memorial Hall (OTR)
Enjoy weekly jazz concerts that feature some of the finest musicians in Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene. The local and regional jazz acts perform different styles of Jazz, such as traditional, swing, Latin, funk, fusion, soul, and more.

take 6

Take 6

R&B Concert
April 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Take 6, initially formed in 1990, is known for its a cappella performances that blend elements of traditional vocal techniques with contemporary R&B and pop influences.

Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr | Cincinnati African American EventsFinding Nemo Jr. 

Musical
April 20 – April 28
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Explore the big blue world with this lively new stage musical based on the beloved Pixar Film.

summit

Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit

Sustainability Summit
May 2, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Duke Energy Convention Center (Downtown)
Bringing together 600+ passionate and visionary leaders to share inspiring, forward-thinking, and solution-oriented ideas that propel guests toward a healthier, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future.

Desi Banks

Desi Banks

Comedy Show
May 3, 8 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Desi Banks is the ultimate triple threat – actor, stand-up comedian, podcaster, and entrepreneur taking the entertainment world by storm.

stanley clarke

Stanley Clarke

Jazz Concert
May 10 & 11
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Four-time Grammy Award Winner Stanley Clarke has obtained “living legend” status during his over 50-year career as a bass virtuoso.

James Arthur

James Arthur

R&B Concert
May 11, 8 p.m.
Andrew J Brady Music Center (The Banks)
Known for his warm brand of R&B-inflected pop, James Arthur initially rose to fame as the victor of the ninth season of the British version of The X Factor in 2012.

ali siddiq

Ali Siddiq

Comedy Show
May 18, 7 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Ali’s unique stand-up style began behind the walls of incarceration, an incubator for engaging experiences and good stories.

African modernism

African Modernism in America

Art Exhibit
Through May 19
Taft Museum of Art (Downtown)
African Modernism in America features more than 60 dynamic and vivid works of art created in Africa during the 1950s and ’60s.

21 savage

21 Savage

Rap Concert
May 22, 7 p.m.
Riverbend Music Center (Anderson)
21 Savage, the GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum global superstar known for his distinctive flow, will perform with special guests J.I.D, Nardo Wick, and 21 Lil Harold.

jon b

Jon B

R&B Concert
May 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Jon B is a consummate artist, an accomplished musician, and a noted songwriter and producer with several gold and platinum records. 

Whitfield Lovell

Whitfield Lovell: Passages

Art Exhibit
Through May 26
Cincinnati Art Museum (Mt Adams)
Whitfield Lovell: Passages urges viewers to contemplate the ordinary lives and extraordinary journeys of the African American experience while raising universal questions about identity, memory, and America’s collective heritage.

Parliament Funkadelic

Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton

Funk Concert
May 28, 8 p.m.
Andrew J Brady Music Center (The Banks)
Parliament Funkadelic is a legendary American funk music collective led by George Clinton, known for their innovative and influential contributions to funk music, combining funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock elements.

ravi coltrane

Ravi Coltrane featuring Gadi Lehavi and Ele Howell

Jazz Concert
June 2, 8 p.m.
Memorial Hall (OTR)
Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.

Kindred The Family Soul

Kindred the Family Soul

Contemporary Concert
June 7, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Kindred the Family Soul is an American neo-soul duo consisting of married couple Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon.

adam hawley

Adam Hawley and Julian Vaughn

Jazz Concert
June 8, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Experience the musical talents of Adam Hawley and Julian Vaughn as they grace the stage at the Ludlow Garage.

janet jackson

Janet Jackson with Nelly

R&B Concert
June 22, 8 p.m.
Riverbend Music Center (Anderson)
Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Janet Jackson will perform, featuring Nelly as her special guest.

yussef dayes

Yussef Dayes

Jazz Concert
June 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Prepare to be transported on a musical journey as Dayes, a virtuoso drummer known for his mesmerizing improvisations and genre-blurring style, takes the stage. 

the culture

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st century

Art Exhibition
June 28 – September 29
Cincinnati Art Museum (Mt Adams)
In celebration of hip hop’s remarkable, decades-long impact and influence on society, the Cincinnati Art Museum will host a multimedia exhibition showcasing more than 90 works of art by some of today’s most essential and celebrated artists.

Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy

Blues Concert
June 29, 8 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Multi-Grammy Award-winning blues icon Buddy Guy celebrates his seventh Billboard #1 album; along with it, he bids farewell to extensive touring with the upcoming Damn Right Farewell Tour.

Walter Beasley

Walter Beasley

Jazz Concert
July 13, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Acclaimed saxophonist Walter Beasley will take the stage, promising an evening filled with soulful grooves.

musiq soulchild

Musiq Soulchild

R&B Concert
July 18, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Musiq Soulchild is a singer and songwriter whose style blends R&B, funk, blues, jazz, and gospel influences fused with hip-hop.

Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago

Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago

Concert
July 19, 7:30 p.m.
Riverbend Music Center (Anderson)
Two of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands of all time have announced the return of their renowned co-headlining tour.

Four80East

Four80East

Jazz Concert
August 9, 7:30 p.m.
The Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Experience the captivating sounds of Four80East, the dynamic electro-jazz duo hailing from Toronto.

Related Article: Midwest events and festivals

Cincinnatians can enjoy music nearly every night of the week. Visit our weekly list of things to do to see which arts centers, concert halls, auditoriums, and venues offer chamber, classical, philharmonic, orchestral, choral, folk, R&B, hip-hop, soul, or gospel music.

Cincinnati is also extremely fortunate that nationally known artists display their talents in the Queen City music scene. Touring acclaimed African American artists, artistic directors, singers, music directors, and performers routinely visit.

See African American instrumentalists play the violin concerto, cello, clarinet, piano, drums, and saxophone. Local symphony orchestras, string quartets, trios, duos, and soloists often perform music from Mozart, Brahms, and Mahler.

When purchasing tickets, ask the box office about exclusive deals, discount options, community performances, dress rehearsals, recitals, or same-day options. Some events will sell out quickly, so buy tickets while you can.

Related Article: Things to do this week in Black Cincinnati

Written by: Crystal Kendrick

The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-270-3880.

Cincinnati African American Events photo provided by AdobeStock

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Written by Crystal Kendrick

Publisher, The Voice of Black Cincinnati

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